1 Kings 10:5

_AND THE MEAT OF HIS TABLE, AND THE SITTING OF HIS SERVANTS, AND THE ATTENDANCE OF HIS MINISTERS, AND THEIR APPAREL, AND HIS CUPBEARERS, AND HIS ASCENT BY WHICH HE WENT UP UNTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD; THERE WAS NO MORE SPIRIT IN HER._ And the meat of his table - including the immense amount, variety, and luxuriousness of the daily provisions (cf. 1 Kings 4:22), as well as the sumptuous splendour of the equipage at the royal table (1 Kings 10:21). AND THE SITTING OF HIS SERVANTS, х_ UWMOWSHAB_ (H4186) _ `ªBAADAAYW_ (H5650)] - and the seat of his servants; i:e., the particular place assigned to each according to gradation; or the collective body of his servants (cf...

1-13 The queen of Sheba came to Solomon to hear his wisdom, thereby to improve her own. Our Saviour mentions her inquiries after God, by Solomon, as showing the stupidity of those who inquire not after God, by our Lord Jesus Christ. By waiting and prayer, by diligently searching the Scriptures, by consulting wise and experienced Christians, and by practising what we have learned, we shall be delivered from difficulties. Solomon's wisdom made more impression upon the queen of Sheba than all his prosperity and grandeur. There is a spiritual excellence in heavenly things, and in consistent Christians, to which no reports can do justice. Here the truth exceeded; and all who, through grace, are brought to commune with God, will say the one half was not told them of the pleasures and the advantages of wisdom's ways. Glorified saints, much more, will say of heaven, that the thousandth part was...

Verse 1 Kings 10:5. _THE MEAT OF HIS TABLE_] The immense supply of all kinds of food daily necessary for the many thousands which were fed at and from his table. See 1 Kings 4:22-11, and the notes there. _AND THE SITTING OF HIS SERVANTS_] The various orders and distinctions of his officers. _THE ATTENDANCE OF HIS MINISTERS_] See the account of these and their attendance, 1 Kings 4:1, c. _AND THEIR APPAREL_] The peculiarity of their robes, and their splendour and costliness. _AND HIS CUP-BEARERS_] The original משקיו _mashkaiv_ may as well be applied to his _beverage_, or to his drinking uten

AND THE MEAT OF HIS TABLE - Compare 1 Kings 4:22. The scene here described receives very apt illustration from the Assyrian banquet scenes, where we have numerous guests sitting, dressed handsomely in fringed robes, with armlets upon their arms, and bracelets round their wrists, attendants standing behind them, and magnificent drinking-cups, evidently of a costly metal, in the hands of the guests, which are filled from a great wine-bowl at one end of the chamber. AND HIS ASCENT BY WHICH HE WENT UP - A rendering preferable to “the burnt-offering which he cffered in.” The “ascent” was probably a private way by which the king passed from his palace on the western hill, across the ravine (Tyropoeum) and up the eastern hill, to the west side of the temple area (compare the marginal reference)....

EXPOSITION THE VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA.—The last words of the preceding chapter spoke of Solomon's fleet, of its voyages, and the treasures it brought home. The historian now proceeds to tell of one result to which these voyages led. The fame of the king and his great undertakings was so widely diffused, and excited so much wonder and curiosity, that a queen of Arabia came, among others, to see the temple and the palaces and the many marvels of Solomon's city and court. The prediction of Solomon's prayer (1 Kings 8:42) has soon had a fulfilment. 1 KINGS 10:1 AND WHEN THE QUEEN OF SHEBA [There is no good ground for doubting that

AND THE MEAT OF HIS TABLE,.... The various sorts of it, the different dishes, and the multitude of them; see 1 Kings 4:22 AND THE SITTING OF HIS SERVANTS; at table, either with him, or at tables by themselves, yet in his presence; for these were his nobles and courtiers, who were placed in order, according to their rank and degree, which showed wisdom: AND THE ATTENDANCE OF HIS MINISTERS; or the "standing" q of those that waited, both at the king's table, and the tables of the lords, who each had their proper place and business assigned; so that the utmost decorum was observed, and no confusion or disorder to be seen: AND THEIR APPAREL: their several liveries, which were distinct according to the posts and offices in which they were, and which no doubt were rich and splendid, as well as various: and his cup bearers

6. SOLOMON AND THE QUEEN OF SHEBA: HIS GREAT RICHES AND SPLENDOUR CHAPTER 10 _ 1. The visit of the Queen (1 Kings 10:1)_ 2. Solomon's enormous wealth (1 Kings 10:14) 3. the targets and shields (1 Kings 10:16) 4. The ivory throne (1 Kings 10:18) 5. The abundance of gold and the depreciation of silver (1 Kings 10:21) 6. The greatest living monarch (1 Kings 10:23) 7. His chariots and hors

1 KINGS 10. VISIT OF THE QUEEN OF SHEBA. By Sheba or Saba a district in S. Arabia is meant. The Sabæ ans were known to the Israelites as exporters of gold (Isaiah 60:6; Psalms 72:15); Ezekiel (Ezekiel 27:23) says that they dealt extensively with Tyre. In Job (Job 1:15; Job 6:19), they are represented as marauders. The civilisation of Arabia was considerable, and much light has been thrown on it by scholars like Hommel and Glaser. Our Lord calls the queen of Sheba the queen of the south (Mat

SITTING. seated assembly. ATTENDANCE. standing. ASCENT. The covered stairway connecting Mount Zion (Jebus) with Mount Moriah. Compare 2 Kings 16:18. Ascent is the word for burnt or "ascending offering", by the merits of which we ascend now. SPIRIT. Hebrew. _ruach._ App-9....

_the sitting of his servants_ Here -servants" signifies the officers and distinguished persons who were privileged to sit at the king's table, and were ranged according to rank and in large numbers at the royal banquets. _the attendance of his ministers_ This refers most probably to those persons who stood to serve the guests. The Hebrew word rendered -attendance" is literally -standing." See A.V. marg. _and his ascent by which he went up unto the house of the Lord_ This passage is rendered by the light of the parallel place in 2 Chronicles 9:4. There the word ועליתו does mean -and his ascent", but here the text gives ועלתו, which should be rendered -and his burnt offering." So that the margin of the R.V. (which is also accepted by Luther, Coverdale and the Geneva Bible) is correct for this verse, -and his burnt offering which he offered in the house of the Lord." I